News

Food Style: Truly scrumptious

Along with those other universally unpopular annual events - Mother's and Father's Days - St Valentine's Day has been much panned of late. Anybody who ventures into a restaurant on the night of nights to be faced with pink menus, wilting roses, heartshaped puddings, embarrassed fellow diners and overinflated bills will understand why.

However, giving up altogether is feeble, not to say rude, if you have a beloved who deserves to be cosseted. The posh mail-order butcher Donald Russell offers a full menu of luxury specialities such as langoustines or scallops on shells, followed by lamb Valentine steaks. Cut from the loin, they have a natural heart shape and are easy to cook (£46 for 16 steaks; 01467 629666).

If even that's too much effort, other companies are competing to do it all for you at home. Effortless Eating will dispatch a luxury home-cooked dinner for two, including